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I'm currently a fed circuit law clerk, and I am starting to think about sending our resumes to firms. I'm primarily interested in appellate work, but might be interested in doing white collar crime if I can't get into a firm with a strong appellate practice. I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions for firms that I should apply to. Here's my stats:

1. Graduated top 5% at a law school ranked 25-35
2. Held a prestigious board position on my Law Review
3. Clerked for a state supreme court
4. Currently a clerk at a federal COA
5. Have published 5 articles (2 as as student and 3 since graduating) (not sure that publications matter to firms)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I think that many of the top appellate practices are in Washington, D.C. I'd imagine that a lot of white collar work is in DC as well. I think, though, that your experience clerking would be more valuable for appellate than white collar. From what I've seen, experience at DoJ, a USAO, SEC, etc... is key to white collar practice.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm currently a fed circuit law clerk, and I am starting to think about sending our resumes to firms. I'm primarily interested in appellate work, but might be interested in doing white collar crime if I can't get into a firm with a strong appellate practice. I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions for firms that I should apply to. Here's my stats:

1. Graduated top 5% at a law school ranked 25-35
2. Held a prestigious board position on my Law Review
3. Clerked for a state supreme court
4. Currently a clerk at a federal COA
5. Have published 5 articles (2 as as student and 3 since graduating) (not sure that publications matter to firms)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Appellate: http://www.chambersandpartners.com/USA/Editorial/42616

White Collar in NY (scroll down): http://www.chambersandpartners.com/USA/Editorial/43213

White Collar in DC doesn't have its own Chambers, but you can get a sense by reading through the general DC litigation one (below). The big ones are W&C, Covington, Wilmerhale, and Kirkland: http://www.chambersandpartners.com/USA/Editorial/42873

Thanks very much! Is it even a possibility for someone with my stats to get in at any of the top appellate practice firms?

Anonymous User wrote:Thanks very much! Is it even a possibility for someone with my stats to get in at any of the top appellate practice firms?

Hard to say. It's certainly a possibility, though appellate practices tend to be very pedigree-focused. But you have outstanding grades and a COA clerkship, so I imagine at least some of them would give you a look.

You certainly have nothing to lose by trying.